While strolling down pit road Saturday evening at Richmond, I was approached by a group of guys my parents' age.
"Where'd The Six go?" one said, referring to the original half-dozen or so readers whose e-mails were featured in the Q&A portion of my column.
After a hefty ration of razzing, they expressed disappointment in its hiatus, said they used to debate it over beers every Friday night and that I need to get off my keister and get back after it.
If that's not a reason to be more consistent with it, nothing is.
Have at it, Six …
Marty,
If you had to pick a different Chase driver every race, what order would you go in?
-- Presumed facetious nickname I can't print, Minnesota
These types of fantasy leagues are extremely difficult, because you have to be quite strategic and well-versed on who's consistently good where. Nostradamus I'm not, but I'll try. Full disclosure: 95 percent of this is based on hunch, with minimal study of average finishes at each track.
• Loudon: Jeff Burton• Dover: Jimmie Johnson
• Kansas: Carl Edwards
• California: Kyle Busch
• Charlotte: Tony Stewart
• Martinsville: Denny Hamlin
• Talladega: Kevin Harvick
• Texas: Clint Bowyer
• Phoenix: Jeff Gordon
• Homestead: Greg Biffle
Now, based on this, it's probably time to go put your money on Kurt Busch to win Loudon.
Marty,
With such an even field heading into the Chase, why do anything to change it? Is competition so bad?
-- Bernadette Vielhaber, Cleveland
Not even. Competition is better than it's ever been, Bernadette. I repeat: Better. Than. Ever. But fan interest has waned, and therefore so have ticket sales and television ratings. That's what's driving that decision. Which segues well to this …
Marty,
Is NASCAR considering shortening the season? Could the dropping TV ratings and lagging attendance be due to oversaturation?
-- Shannon, The Gooch, Virginia
No. They aren't considering shortening the season at this time. Should they? Absolutely. I've said it forever -- 30 races is perfect. Start in February. End on Labor Day. Stop fighting football for fans and ratings. Problem is it's far more convoluted than merely saying, "OK, we're going to cut some races."
There are countless political variables involved in shortening the season -- and for that matter, even shortening races.
To name a couple, teams sell sponsorship based on a 36-race schedule and television partners sell advertising based on length of races from previous years. All manner of things are impacted by that decision.
Marty,
Who's your pick to win the Chase? Give me a dark horse, too, please. I need the help. Office pool.
-- Dan Helton, North Dakota
Come on, Dan, you don't need me. Just get brother Mike on the phone. Champion: Johnson. Until someone beats him, I'd be an idiot to presume otherwise.
Dark horse: Bowyer. Just have a feeling he's going to make some noise.
Marty,
What are your thoughts on Gordon being able to win the championship based on consistency and no wins?
-- Jeremy Smith, Lancaster, Pa., via Twitter
In contrast to years past, I feel like a driver can win the 2010 championship without winning a race, and I base that on a point Jeff Burton made to me Saturday night at Richmond. Matt Kenseth notwithstanding, each driver has pieced together four- and five-race blocks of excellence. Maybe not wins, but top-5s and top-10s. Winning the Chase is about avoiding disaster. Awful finishes hurt far worse than excellent finishes help.
To that end, I view the Chase somewhat like the BCS in college football. Don't screw up early, because it's awfully hard to rally when you have to jump so many good teams to do so.
Starting strong is critical. The drivers who can start the Chase consistently strong will have an excellent opportunity, because from there it's all maintenance. Gordon can do that. In fact, they all can. Kenseth hasn't shown much this year, but his teammates Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards came out of nowhere once they implemented cars built like those Kenny Francis and Kasey Kahne run. So maybe Kenseth will show up just in time.
Marty,
What will NASCAR do if someone wins the championship without winning a race?
-- No name, Marshall, Texas
Hand them the trophy and the check, I figure.
Song of the week: Josh Thompson, "I've Always Been Me." My buddies and I can relate well. Shout out to BF: "I've been called everything from bad news to a crazy SOB, but I've always been me."
Marty,
Did you see where Jimmy Johnson is on Survivor? How do you think he'll do? And how would NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson do?
-- Samuel Peters, Tallulah, La.
Indeed I did, Samuel. For anyone who watched football on Sunday it was impossible to miss. I can't help but wonder if the former Dallas Cowboys coach and current Extenze pitchman brought some product to "Survivor." Back in January, during the Charlotte Motor Speedway media tour, there was a Ford news conference with Kevin Conway at the track. The centerpieces on the luncheon's tables were … that's right … packets of Extenze. We were all giggly at my table, waiting for someone to mistake them for sugar packets.
In a related note, I can't wait until Johnson's team wins a challenge and he screams: "How 'bout them geriatrics!"
As for NASCAR's JJ, he'd do well. He's plenty fit, gets along well with others and is diplomatic. He's also built several houses for Habitat For Humanity, so I figure he'd conjure up a mean lean-to. Plus, he already looks the part, given that thicket on his face.
Marty,
How small do you feel beside Brad D [Daugherty]?
-- Ben Vance, Mississippi
Like a gnat on the tarmac.
May be weird, but every time I'm in an airplane restroom, I wonder how Brad folds himself into that coat closet with wings. I can't fit and I'm a foot shorter than him. He doesn't have a prayer.
That's my time, team. Thanks for yours.